“I am glad to hear that, for we had a dangerous trip of it coming east by ourselves, as we waked up several bands of reds; but listen! There is trouble there--hark!” A shot was seen to flash out ahead, near a thicket of cottonwoods, and a cry of pain followed. “Come!” cried the scout, and driving their spurs into their horses, they dashed forward, their revolvers ready for use. A moment after they came upon a startling scene, for by the starlight they discovered a form lying upon the ground and two men struggling with a third person. Hearing horses’ hoofs, one of the men turned quickly and fired. At the flash both Buffalo Bill and the Texan replied with a shot. The man dropped in his tracks; while, with a curse, his comrade turned to run into the thicket, with the one he had been struggling with in his arms. But quick as was his motion, quicker was the act of the Texan, who sent a lasso whirling over his head. With a sudden jerk the fugitive was brought to the ground. Throwing himself from his horse, Buffalo Bill bent over him, and placed his revolver to his head, while he cried: “It’s Panther Kate he’s got!” “Yes, Mr. Cody; they lassoed me and jerked me from my horse, and though I managed to draw my pistol and killed one of them, they caught me at last,” said the girl, rising from the ground as the scout released her from the lariat of the Texan, which had encircled her head also. “Don’t p’int thet durned iron at me, pard, fer I is surrendered,” said the ruffian pleadingly. “I’ve a mind to let it go off, and save trouble; shall I, Tabor?” asked the scout as the Texan approached, and raised his sombrero politely to Panther Kate, who stood by with folded arms, perfectly cool after her adventure. “As you please, Cody; I guess nobody’ll mourn for him.” “Oh, Lordy! Pards, yer wouldn’t do it; I knows yer, Bill Cody, an’ yer heart is too tender.” “And I know you now, Vagabond Joe. Now tell me why you attacked Panther Kate?” The villain squirmed as if he did not wish to reply. “Tell me why you attacked Panther Kate?” the scout demanded, covering the man with a revolver. “What were you and your villainous companions up to?” “Don’t shoot!” the fellow whined. “Then speak!” “Well, yer see, it war this way: We knowed that she had the gold you an’ ther captain put up in that bet you made, and----” “Your captain?” said the scout. The man squirmed again. “Who is your captain--out with it?” “I calc’late that you know who he is, Buffalo Bill.” “You mean Kent King, the man I made my bet with--though I did not know at the time he was Kent King--and the man who tried to kill me at the hotel a while ago.” “Yer got ther best of us, Pard Bill, in that row!” “Then you were one of the scoundrelly crowd that came in disguise to the hotel to kill me?” “’Tain’t no use ter lie to you. Yer knows everything,” the rascal whined.